Fire extinguisher



Aug 9, .1932 w. L. RoEssNER 1,870,872

FIRE EXTNGUISHER Filed ay 29, 1930 al gv Y. I l

Patented' ug. 9*, 1932 e UNITED STATES PATENT vce WILLIAM L. ROESSNER, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD .T EMMA WHEELER AND ONE-THIRD TO VICTOR CLYDE SMEDLEY, BOTH OF DENVER,

COLORADO FIRE EXTINGUISHER Application filed May 29,

This invention relates to improvements inV lire extinguishers of the type employing carbon tetrachloride or similar re extinguishing liquids that produce a heavy noninflam- 5 mable gas when subjected to the action of fao heat.

The use of carbon tetrachloride as a lire extinguishing liquid is quite common and for the purpose of transporting the liquid and for storing it, glass containers are provided. These glass containers are somewhat pear-shaped and are hermetically sealed. When such `containers or grenades are employed, they are usually supported from the wall or from a stationary support by a special supporting bracket that is provided with means for breaking the container or for releasing it .so that it may drop upon the floor whenever the temperature ofthe air exceeds a predetermined value.

It is the object of this invention to produce a holder for glass grenades of the type referred to which shall be so designed and constructed that it can be very cheaply manufactured and which shall be provided with means for crushing the lower-end of the grenade when the temperature exceeds the predetermined limit.

This invention, briefly described, consists of a holder made from sheet metal and provided with a straight base section, whose upper end terminates in a circular supporting loop that is formed'integral with it and which is bent so as to lie in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the base. The lower end of the base terminates in a portion that extends downwardly and outwardly at an angle and whose low-` er end is bent so as to `lie in a plane substantially parallel with the plane of the loop. Secured to the lower end portion just mentioned are two jaw members that are hingedly connected and are biasedto closed position by means of a spring. The action of the spring is resisted byV a fusible link which serves to release the spring when the temperature exceeds a predetermined value. These jaws surround a'portion of the grenade and when the fusible link releases the spring, the jaws crush the grenade by a 1930. Serial No. 457,100.

squeezing action and permit the liquid` to fiow out into the room.

Having thus briefly described the invention, the same will now be described in detail', and for this purpose reference will be had to the accompanying drawing in which the preferred embodiment has been illustrated, and in which.:

Fig.` l is a perspective view of my improved hol'dershowing a grenade in place therein;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2, Fig. 1'; and f Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3, Fig. 2.

In the drawingreference numeral Vl represents the surface of a wall or any other stationary supporting member. My improved holder consists of a member that is preferably made from a piece of sheet metal and which has a straight base portion 2 that is provided with two spaced openings for the reception of screws 3 by Vmeans of which it can be secured to the wall or other' supporting surface. The upper end of the base terminates in a circular supporting loop or ring 4 that extends outwardly at right angles to the base. Although this loop is preferably made integral with the base, this is not an essential feature of the invention as loop 4: may be made from wire and secured to the base'by means of solder or in some other suit-r able way. The lower end of the base terminates in the portion 5 that is outwardly and downwardly inclined and the lower end 6 of which is bent so that it lays'in a plane substantially parallel with the plane of loop 4. Pivotally connected with the end portion 6 are two jaws which have been designated in their entireties by reference numeral 7. lThese jaws comprise semi-circular portions or arms 8 that overlap and are provided with openings for the reception 'of the pivot pin 9. On the rear of pivot pin 9 the jaws have arms l0 that extend outwardly at an angle and which terminate in straight portions ll whose ends l2 are bent inwardly and provided Vwith upwardly extending hooks 13. The inner `surfaceof arms 11v are provided with projections 14 that vserve to supportthe spring 15, which' is vnormally under compression. The jaws are held in open position by means of a fusible link comprising two members 16 and 17 that are attached to each other by means of easily fusible solder. The outer ends of the link are provided with openings 18 through which the hooks 13 extend. When the temperature increases to a value sufficient to melt the solder, the two parts of the link will separate and the spring will then function to move the jaws towards each other. For the purpose of limiting the inward movement of the jaws, they have been provided with stops 19, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Y Y

After my improved holder is put in place, a grenade like that indicated by reference numeral 20 is put in place and is supported by loop 4. The narrow end 21 extends through the opening between the two jaw members. As long as the temperature does not rise suiiiciently high to melt the fusible link, the parts will remain as shown in the drawing. When the temperature increases sufficiently to melt the solder, the two parts of the fusible link will move apart by the actio-n of th-e spring 15 and at the same time the jaws will be forced against the .outer surface of the grenade, thereby crushing it and allowing the liquid to flow out, whereupon it will be vaporized and exclude the oxygen from the flame.V

I want to call particularattention to the fact that in my device the grenade is broken by a squeezing action as 'distinguished from a sudden blow, and by this means kthe grenade is not shattered to any great extent and there'is therefore no danger to the occupants of the room,vas there are no flying pieces of glass or metal which nearly always is present when the grenades are shattered by a quick blow from a missie or hammer.

In devices of this'general type difficulty has often been experienced because the fusible links will give way due to the action of the spring and the parts .will operate prematurely. In this device it is possible to use two or more fusible links all of them being applied to lugs 13 in the manner shown. The several links will all serve to resist the force exerted by the spring but will all release at the same time since they are all subjected to the same temperature conditions. Since enough fuses can be used to assure that the spring will not disrupt them, the device can be shipped without applying any safety devices that must be removed by the buyer and therefore the danger of leaving the safety device in place when the extinguisher is put into place in a building is obviated.

From the above description it will be seen that I have produced a very simple and inexpensive device for supporting grenades used for fire extinguishers andwhich is provided with means for crushing a portion of the grenade when the temperature reaches a value suiiiciently high to melt the fusible link with which the device is provided.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. A lire extinguisher comprising, in combination, a support, akglass grenade containing a lire extinguishing liquid, means carried by the support for holding the grenade, i

and means mounted on the supportfor applying pressure to oppositeV sides of the grenade for breaking the samewhen the temperature increases above a predetermined vvalue,"'said last named means comprising two hinged jaws thatencircle a portion of the grenade, means comprising a spring for moving thevjaws against the grenade with sufficientforce to crush the latter andmea-ns comprising a fusible link for holding the jaws against the action of the spring while the temperature is below a predetermined value and for releasing the jaws when the pressure rises above that value.

2. A support for a glass grenade comprising a base portion vadapted to be secured to a wall, the upper endv being ,formed into a grenade supporting loop and bent into a plane that is perpendicular to the plane of the straight portion, the lower end of the straight portion being Voutwardly inclined andV terminating in a short section that lies in aV plane substantially parallel to the plane of the loop and a pair of opposed. jaws pivoted to theV short section, heat responsive means for holding the jaws apart and resilient means urging the jaws together, the jaws being so positioned that they are capable of acting on the lower portion of a grenade supported by the loop.

3. A support for glass lireA extinguisher grenades comprising a member having a straight base portion adapted to be secured to a wall, one end ofthe base being formed into a circular grenade supporting loopthat lies in a plane at right angles to the base, the other endV of the base having a portion that lies in a plane substantially parallel. to the plane of the loop, a pair of jawspivoted to the last mentioned portion of the base, said jaws being .curved and located `with their concave sides towards each other, means comprising a spring for exerting a force on the jaws vtending to moveA them Vtowards each` in a plane at-'right angles to the base, the

other end of the base having a portion that liesj in a plane substantially parallelgto'the plane of the loop, a pair of jaws pivoted to the last mentioned portion of the base, said jaws being curved and located with their `concave sides towards each other, means comprising a spring for eXerting a force on the jaws tending to move them towards each other, means comprising a fusible link for holding the jaws open against the action of the spring, and means for limiting the movement of the jaws in response to the action of the spring the jaws being so positioned that they are capable of acting on the lower portion of a grenade supported by the loop.

5. A lire extinguisher comprising, in combination, a holder having means for supporting a frangible grenade containing a fire extinguishing liquid, contractible means mounted on the holder, said means having jaws extending on opposite sides of the lower end of the grenade, means tending to move the jaws towards the grenade to break the Y latter and release its contents, and heat responsive means for holding the aws against movement while the temperature is below a predetermined limit and for releasing the jaws when the temperature rises above the limit. Y

6. A lire extinguisher comprising, in combination, a trangible grenade containing a lire extinguishing medium, a holder having means for supporting the grenade, a pair of jaws mounted on the holder and hinged together, said jaws embracing the grenade, means tending to contract said jaws by rocking them on their hinge to break the grenade and release its contents, and means to prevent said jaws from such rocking on said hinge until subjected to a predetermined temperature. Y

7 A fire extinguisher comprising, in combination, a frangible grenade containing a fire extinguishing medium, a holder having means for supporting the grenade, contractible means mounted on the holder for embracing the grenade, means tending to contract said means, and means preventing said contracting means from becoming operative until subjected to a predetermined temperature.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM L. ROESSNER. 

